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COLLEGE SIGNINGS: Southern Fulton's Trent Rider commits to College of Charleston

Lizi Arbogast, GameTimePA
Published 9:32 p.m. ET July 6, 2015

Trent Rider throws for Southern Fulton during the District 5 Class A playoffs this season. Rider has committed to the College of Charleston (S.C.) to play baseball.(Photo: Ryan Blackwell &#8212; GameTimePA&#46;com)

All the questions have been answered for Southern Fulton's Trent Rider.

After a lengthy recruiting process, during which it became clear Rider was Division I material, the 17-year-old, Southern Fulton senior-to-be has found a home after high school.

Rider has made a verbal commitment to the College of Charleston, a Div. I program located in South Carolina.

"There were several places that made offers, but Charleston was the best fit," Rider said. "It's a great place. It got voted third-best city in the world two weeks ago. Nathan Ocker (of Middletown) goes there, and him and I are great buds. They have a new coach. The weather is great. Honestly, it's just a great place."

Rider will undoubtedly be a top pitcher for the Cougars, who finished this past season ranked 18th in the nation. And although he's made a commitment with a year left in his high school career, there's little that will change his mind about attending Charleston.

"I would definitely go there, unless I can get drafted in one of the earlier rounds," Rider said. "It's an amazing place."

Rider received offers from Virginia Tech, Penn State and Elon (N.C.) University, but even Indian coach Dustin Fischer wasn't surprised by Rider's choice.

"He's had a lot of people show interest in him, and he had offers coming in as soon as our season ended," Fischer said. "I knew the College of Charleston was something he wanted, so that's where I figured he was going to end up going."

But there's still work to do. With a season left at Southern Fulton, Rider will simply be working on perfecting his game. At this time, he does not plan to play basketball for the Indians, instead planning to use the offseason for extra training.

"I'll have more time to come to my pitching coach (Mark Shives)," Rider said. "He's a scout for the Kansas City Royals, and he thinks he can get me throwing about 93 to 95 (miles per hour). He thinks getting drafted is definitely a possibility."

Fischer said, "The thing is, he works so much in the offseason, so we can just work on fine-tuning in high school. I definitely don't want to abuse him. Obviously he'll be our No. 1 again next year, but we'll keep taking care of him."

Rider finished the 2015 season with a 9-1 record. In 69 1/3 innings of work, he allowed just 16 runs with 108 strikeouts and only five walks. And he looks forward to only getting better.

"Every year, I get better and better experiences playing baseball," Rider said. "It's easily the best sport in the world. To have a career at the next level when you're not even in your senior year, I can't even express how amazing it feels."

PAIR HEAD FOR COLLEGIATE FOOTBALL >> A local duo will be continuing their football careers at the next level.

James Buchanan tackle Tyler Schultz is heading to Lebanon Valley College, while Greencastle-Antrim lineman Bobby Rider has committed to West Chester.

SHIP SENDS OFF ANOTHER >> A pair of Shippensburg baseball players have already made their college decisions, and now Daulton Brenize is joining the ranks.

Brenize, the Greyhounds' top hitter and a Public Opinion First Team All-Star this season, will play for Lock Haven. He finished with a .515 batting average this year.